By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Bearcats continue eyeing playoff berth with win over Lions
Northwest Missouri State University extended their Division II best home winning streak to 18 games and kept their playoff aspirations alive with a 27-5 win over Missouri Southern on Senior Day Saturday.
The Bearcats rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns on the day against the Lions, marking the third time this season that Northwest has not allowed their opponent to score a touchdown.
The scoring did get started on the day by Missouri Southern, the Lions sacked quarterback Mike Hohensee in the endzone after two plays following a punt that ended Southern's opening drive. The two points were the only ones scored in the first quarter.
The scoring would start quickly for the Bearcats in the second quarter, as Hohensee would open the frame with a two yard rushing score, giving the Bearcats a 7-2 lead. Missouri Southern would answer though, thanks to a fumble from Kashan Griffin.
The Lions would recover the fumble at the 32 yard line, but the Northwest defense would stand strong, allowing only 10 yard on seven plays. That would force Southern to kick a 39 yard field goal, making the deficit two points as Northwest would lead 7-5.
There was no more scoring between the two teams before halftime, and when the second half whistle blew, it was all Northwest from there as the Bearcats scored 20 unanswered points.
Jadon Brady would make a 52 yard house call to start the scoring in the third quarter, and then late in the frame Jamar Moya would rush in from two yards out. The final score of the game would come late in the fourth quarter with Jay Harris rushing in from one yard out.
The Bearcats were led in rushing by the freshman Harris who carried the ball 15 times for 83 yards to go with his touchdown, his fifth score of the season. Moya tallied 24 yards on 13 carries while Brady rushed five times for 65 yards.
Northwest is now 8-2 on the season heading into the final week of the regular season. The Bearcats will travel to Emporia, Kansas for a matchup with the Emporia State University Hornets. Kickoff is set for 1pm.
Missouri Western falls in overtime to UCM in Warrensburg
Missouri Western would come back in the second half against the Mules, before falling in double overtime in Warrensburg. Read our full recap of the game here.
Ravens secure a share of Heart South title with win over Evangel
The #6 Benedictine Ravens dominated time of possession and outscored Evangel 23-0 before allowing a touchdown, on way to a 30-7 Senior Day win Saturday.
The win for the Ravens secures at least a share of the Heart South title, with a chance to win the title outright in their final game of the season this week.
Both the Benedictine and Evangel scored no points in the first quarter, but the Ravens held the ball for almost 10 minutes compared to just over three minutes of possession for the Valor. The first and only points of the first half would come early in the second quarter, an eight yard rushing score from quarterback Garrett Kettle.
Kettle would also score the first points of the second half, extending the Ravens lead to 14-0 with a one yard rushing touchdown that ended an eight play 40 yard drive. Following a Valor three and out, the Ravens would drive 53 yards on just four plays, ending the drive with a Harry Balke 20 yard field goal, going up 17-0.
Following a blocked punt late in the third, the Ravens would add one more on just one play, a Rayshon Mills one yard rushing touchdown, making the score at the end of the third 23-0.
Evangel would score early in the fourth following a seven play, 68 yard drive, ending with a three yard rushing score by RJ Wakely, ending the run of unanswered points by Benedictine. But that would be all for them, as the only other score of the fourth quarter would be another rushing score from Kettle.
Kettle was not only the leading passer, but also the leading rusher, running a whopping 17 times for 66 yards to go with his three scores, while passing for 200 yards on 20-of-35 passing. Mills also rushed 17 times for just 36 yards.
Benedictine will now go for an outright Heart South title when they matchup this Saturday with MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas for their regular season finale. Kickoff is set for 1pm
Jayhawks going bowling for first time since 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Devin Neal ran for 224 yards and a touchdown and had 110 receiving yards, leading Kansas past No. 18 Oklahoma State 37-16 on Saturday.
The Jayhawks (6-3, 3-3 Big 12 Conference) are bowl eligible for the first time since 2008 when they beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
“I'm really proud of our guys and our staff,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “To be able to do something like this is pretty special.”
Kansas’ ground game led the way with 351 yards as a team with Neal setting career highs in both rushing and receiving yards against the Cowboys (6-3, 3-3 Big 12).
“That's what makes it more special,” Neal said about growing up in Lawrence just a few miles away from the stadium. “When I did commit there was a lot of people that asked me why I would waste my career there.
"Looking back now, to be able to do what we've done it's pretty special. It just means a lot more to me especially just because I grew up here just two miles way from campus.”
Jason Bean was efficient in the air, too. He went 18-for-23 passing for 203 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for a 72-yard touchdown.
Neal and Bean combined for 237 yards on the ground in the first half with two touchdowns. Bean gained 93 yards on four carries while Neal had six catches.
“The performance of Devin Neal was just outstanding,” Leipold said. "We had talked about how we needed him to have one of those games, and he answered that. "
Kansas benefited from Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders not playing, with freshman Garrett Rangel throwing interceptions on the Cowboys' first two drives. Rangel went 27 of 40 for 304 yards and two touchdowns.
The takeaway for Kansas? Now being bowl eligible, the pressure is off this team that won their first five games. If the Jayhawks win out and get some help, they could find themselves in the Big 12 Championship game.
Next up the Jayhawks will travel to Lubbock, Texas for a matchup with Texas Tech on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6pm
Kentucky holds off comeback attempt from Tigers in win
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Amid a contest in which the defenses for Kentucky and Missouri flexed their muscles most of the afternoon, it was a botched punt snap that proved the difference for the Wildcats in escaping with a 21-17 victory over the Tigers on Saturday.
Incredibly, it was the Wildcats (6-3, 3-3 SEC) who benefitted from their own special team’s misfire, staking claim to a win making them bowl-eligible.
Lining up for a punt on fourth-and-4 from their own 41-yard line with 2:34 left, Kentucky long snapper Drew Perry sailed the snap over the head of punter Colin Goodfellow, who chased the loose ball down at the 4-yard line. Goodfellow managed to turn back upfield and boot the ball away just as he was tackled by Missouri linebacker Will Norris.
A flag immediately came out and after a discussion the officials penalized Norris for roughing the punter, determining that Goodfellow had remained within the tackle box and by resuming a punting motion had maintained the protection of a punter. Goodfellow was injured on the play and was carted off the field.
The play enabled Kentucky to run all but 38 seconds off the clock.
“It was just a remarkable play by him,” said Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops. “At first I was like, ‘Well, I wish he would have taken the safety.’ But he made a remarkable play.”
Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz didn’t agree with the explanation he received from the officials but said the play wasn’t ultimately what doomed the Tigers (4-5, 2-4 SEC).
“How a guy can still be a protected punter 50 yards down the field and how are guys supposed to know that he can’t tackle him is beyond me,” Drinkwitz said, “But I’m sure I’ll get an explanation and I’m sure it will defend them, and we’ll go from there. It doesn’t change the fact that we were 2 of 13 on third downs.”
All four of Missouri’s losses in SEC play have come within a one-score margin. Drinkwitz feels both optimism and frustration in those results.
“It’s frustrating because we haven’t found the way or play to win but it’s obviously a sign of progress that we’re in the fight,” he said. “Now we got to find a way to win that fight.”
The path doesn't get much easier for Missouri this week as they will head to Knoxville and face a Tennessee team that is coming off a loss of their own to Georgia. Kickoff is set for 11am.
Kansas State struggles to slow down running game in loss to Texas
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Two weeks ago, Texas let a game against Oklahoma State slip away in the fourth quarter.
The Longhorns weren't about to let it happen again.
After riding Bijan Robinson to a 31-10 halftime lead at Kansas State, then watching the No. 13 Wildcats come roaring back down the stretch, the Longhorns' defense stepped up one last time. Keondre Coburn stripped Adrian Martinez near midfield with 34 seconds to go, Jaylan Ford pounced on the loose ball and Texas escaped with a 34-27 victory Saturday night.
“We just understood that we're not going to lose again on the road. That's when the fight came out,” said Robinson, who ran for 209 yards and a score. “The defense came up clutch. They understood that they had to put the game on their backs and they had to stop them and execute and that's what they did.”
Quinn Ewers threw for 197 yards with two TD passes to Xavier Worthy, and Roschon Johnson added a TD run for the Longhorns (6-3, 4-2 Big 12), who control their own destiny in the race for the Big 12 title game.
They begin a three-game finishing gauntlet against No. 7 TCU next week before games against Kansas and Baylor.
Martinez threw for 329 yards and two TDs, but he also threw an interception that turned into a Texas touchdown and had the fumble the clinched the game. Deuce Vaughn had 73 yards rushing along with 86 yards and a touchdown receiving.
"The guys stayed in the fight," said Wildcats coach Chris Klieman, whose team hasn't beaten Texas since 2016. “When you are down that big at halftime, a lot of things can go wrong. It's a credit to the character and leadership in that room.”
The momentum swung to Texas on the fourth play of the game, when Kansas State's Julius Brents earned a questionable targeting penalty, taking the Wildcats' best cover cornerback off the field for the rest of the game.
The Longhorns proceeded to reel off three straight touchdown drives, all going eight plays and 75 yards. Robinson capped the first with a 36-yard run, Johnson finished the second from nine yards out, and Worthy capitalized on Brents' absence by hauling in the first of his two TDs to give the Longhorns a 21-10 lead.
The only time Kansas State (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) got off the field came when Johnson fumbled at the end of a 37-yard gain. But the Wildcats promptly punted away, Texas added a field goal, and then Martinez was picked off in the closing minutes to set up Worthy's second touchdown reception and extend the lead to 31-10 at the break.
The Longhorns had 352 yards of offense by that point against a Kansas State defense that limited Oklahoma State to 217 total in a 48-0 win last week. Robinson had bullied his way for 161 on the ground, the best half of his career.
“Bijan Robinson, period,” Klieman said. “I think he's one of the best running backs in college football for a reason.”
Kansas State mounted a second-half comeback, and it was that struggling defense that jump-started it. Josh Hayes popped another fumble loose and, after a series of penalties, Martinez scored from a yard out to make it 31-17.
Martinez then hit Kade Warner from 25 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it a touchdown game.
Texas and Kansas State promptly traded field goals, but the Wildcats' kick came after a time-consuming drive that drained more than 6 minutes off the clock. It got them within 34-27 but with just 4:26 left in the game.
The Wildcats stuffed Robinson on third down to get the ball back, and Martinez quickly moved them to midfield. But after converting fourth down with a pass to Vaughn with 34 seconds to go, the senior quarterback — getting the start over Will Howard, who had been dynamic last week against the Cowboys — fumbled the ball away.
“We had a chance to win it in the fourth quarter,” Klieman said. “We just made too many mistakes.”
Kansas State will look to right the ship once again when they travel to Waco, Texas on Saturday night to face the Baylor Bears. Kickoff is set for 6pm and is airing on FS1.
Minnesota rallies in second half to take down Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 128 yards and two second-half touchdowns, and backup quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis brought Minnesota back from a 10-point halftime deficit in the Gophers' 20-13 victory over Nebraska on Saturday.
The Gophers (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) beat the Cornhuskers for a fourth straight year and became bowl-eligible for the fourth time in coach P.J. Fleck's six seasons. Nebraska (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten) lost its third straight game.
“That’s a gutsy win by a really good football team — ours,” Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said. “It was a great test of character, and I thought we passed the test.”
Kaliakmanis, who took over at the start of the third quarter after Tanner Morgan was injured on the final play of the first half, led the Gophers to scores on four of his first five possessions.
Both of Ibrahim's touchdowns were on 3-yard runs, the first tying the game at 10 and the second making it 20-10.
The Huskers got a field goal to pull within a touchdown, but they turned over the ball on downs near midfield on their final possession and the Gophers ran out the clock.
“We had to grit, grind, fight, scratch, claw, especially when a lot of things weren't going our way," Fleck said. “I'm just really proud of the result of our team, the courage of our team and the heart of our team. I think it showed we didn’t play our best football in the first half. We responded in the second half. That’s a huge win for us.”
Ibrahim, held to 18 yards on eight carries in the first half, went over 100 yards for a Bowl Subdivision-best 17th straight game. He finished with 32 carries, his third straight game with at least 30, and had no runs longer than 11 yards.
“I came out slow, and I'll be the first one to admit that,” said Ibrahim, who met with running backs coach Kenni Burns at halftime. “He had a heart-to-heart with me, and that's really all I needed. He knew that I felt that I let my team down. So it was just take it one play at a time; I'm not looking for the home run.”
Purdy made his first start in place of Casey Thompson, who was held out after injuring a nerve in his right (throwing) elbow against Illinois last week.
The Huskers scored on their first two possessions to lead 10-0. They punted on their next six series, five of which were three-and-outs. Purdy began alternating with Logan Smothers early in the third quarter.
“He's not seeing the coverage, he's not seeing the progression he needs to get to,” Huskers interim coach Mickey Joseph said of Purdy. “We have kids running open and he has to find them, he has to hit them.”
The Huskers, who came in with the Big Ten's worst defense, held the Gophers to their fewest rushing yards (minus-7 yards) and total yards (31) in a half under Fleck. They also recorded three sacks against a Minnesota offense that had given up a Big Ten-low seven through eight games.
Morgan was injured when sacked by Ty Robinson. He had been knocked out of the Oct. 15 game at Illinois with a concussion and didn't return until last week against Rutgers.
Fleck said Morgan has an upper-body injury and gave no details. Kaliakmanis got his most snaps since playing the entire game in a 45-17 loss at Penn State on Oct. 22.
“I said this back at Penn State, the Whiteout wasn’t going to be too big for him and neither was Lincoln, Nebraska,” Fleck said. “With all due respect, he's not rattled by those things. I thought he played outstanding, and he led our football team to victory.”
The Huskers will travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan on Saturday, looking to snap their three game losing streak, for a tough match #5 Michigan. Kickoff is set for 2:30pm and will be aired on ABC